Bollards or like mooring devices



' July 4, 1961 w,- ASH 2,990,801

BOLLARDS OR LIKE MOORING DEVICES Filed Sept. 3, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR A T TORNE Y July 4, 1961 w;' ASH BOLLARDS OR LIKE MOORING DEVICES Filed Sept. 3, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 As H A TTORNE Y W. J. ASH

BOLLARDS OR LIKE MOORING DEVICES July 4, 1961 INVENTOR 4 m s ASH 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 3, 1959 A TTORNE Y Uni sd S e PM n Patented July fl, 1961 2,990,801 BOLLARDS R. LIKE MOORING DEVICES William James Ash, Ashstead, England, assignor of onehalf to E. J. Bean Limited, London, England 7 Filed Sept. 3, 1959, SertNo. 837,904

,Claims priority, application Great Britain Nov. 7, 1958 Claims. (Cl. 114-218) This invention relates to bollards or like devices for mooring ships, the chief object of the invention being to evolve an improved construction of bollard from which f the mooring rope can be instantaneously released in an "emergency for example in the case of fire.

Further objects of the invention will become apparent 1 as this specification proceeds.

' A bollard or like mooring device in accordance with the present invention includes a pedestal or pillar and a 1 sheave, or other rope receiving part so connected with the pedestal or pollar that it is capable of angular movement in two planes, the bollard including means whereby the mooring rope or the like can be released from the bollard instantaneously in an emergency.

Release of the mooring rope from the bollard can be effected in a variety of ways as will be apparent from the following descriptions of alternative constructions.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 171's a perspective view of one form of bollard in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURESZ and 3 are side elevations illustrating the bollard in operation;

FIGURE 4'is a front elevation of the bollard; and

. FIGURE 5 is a vertical section on the line V-V in FIGURE 4.

{Ihe bollard comprises a pedestal 1 which may be set in a pit 2, the pedestal having a part 3 of reduced diameter at its upper end on which part is mounted a ring -4, the ring being intended to support the sheave portion "5 of the bollard so that the sheave can rotate about the axis of the pedestal as required.

The ring 4 is provided with trunnion portions 6 about which the sheave 5 is adapted to pivot in a vertical plane.

The normal positioning of the bollard is shown in FIG URES 1, 4 and 5, that is to say, the bollard is illustrated in a position in which it is to receive the mooring rope 7. Once the mooring rope has been placed in position around the sheave 5, however, the bollard can take up .7 the inclined position such as is shown in FIGURE 2 so that the bollard lies more or less in line with the direction of the mooring rope.

To maintain the bollard in its normal horizontal position the sheave carries a bell crank lever 8 pivoted at 9, the bell crank lever cooperating with a pawl 10 pivotally mounted at 11, the pawl 10 having a slot 12 which engages a pin 13 fixedly located within a boring in the ring 4, the inner extremity of the pin entering an annular groove 14 the reduced diameter part 3 of the pedestal so that the ring can turn freely about the pedestal, but ismaintained in position thereon.

It will be 'obser'ved'from'FIGURE 5' that the adjacent upper ends of levers 8 and 10 interengage at the point 15 and that the depending end of the bell crank lever 8 projects radially from the periphery of the sheave 5. Immediately the rope is passed around the sheave 5, the rope engages the bell crank lever 8 and displaces the latter inwardly into the interior of the sheave, thus causing the lever 10 to pivot about pivotal point 11 and the slot 12 to move out of engagement with the pin 13.

The sheave 5 is balanced and will take up the angle of the rope when the slot 12 disengages from the pin 13.-

To limit downward movement of the sheave 5, the latter is provided with a rubber or other buffer 16 which can engage the base of the pedestal 1 and thus limit the sheaves pivotal movement without risk of damage occurring to the sheave.

As will be seen clearly from FIGURE 4, the sheave is formed with two slots 17 through which project in an outward direction two hook-shaped levers 18, which are pivoted within the sheave at 19. Each of these levers has an outwardly projecting hook-shaped part 20 beneath which the mooring rope is passed when the latter is, in position upon the sheave.

Each lever 18 is pivotally associatedat 20a with a strut 21, the two struts abutting when the rope is in position around the sheave, the two struts occupying the position shown on the right hand side of FIGURE 4.

The means for effecting instantaneous release of the rope, however, causes the inner free ends of the struts 21 to be displaced upwardly and consequently when this has taken place the struts will assume the position shown on the left hand side of FIGURE 4, in which case the levers 18 will pivot inwardly into a position in which they-will no longer maintain the rope in position upon the sheave. Each lever 18 is provided with a foot portion 22 which engages a flange 23 provided on the lower end of the sheave, thus supporting the two levers in their normal operative position.

The means for releasing the rope instantaneously preferably comprises a weight 24, which in FIGURE 5 is illustrated by full lines in its raised operative position, the weight engaging at 28 with the operative part 27 of the pawl 26 supporting it in its raised position. The pawl is pivoted about the point 29 and at its lower end is connected at the point 30 with a chain 31 or other flexible operating member passing over pulleys32 and 33 on its way to a point remote from the bollard. It will be appreciated, therefore, that a pull on the chain in the direction of arrow A will result in pivotal movement of the pawl 26 into the dotted line position, thus causing the weight 24 to fall vertically downwards.

, The weight is provided with an axial boring in which is hung a spindle 34 having an enlarged head 25,. the spindle being connected at the point 36 to a chain 37 or other flexible member, the chain being connected at its free end to a handle 38, which is provided for a purpose hereinafter referred to.

The chain 37 passes over pulleys 39 and 40 which are carried by a lever 41, the latter being pivotally mounted within the sheave at the point 42 and having abias weight 43. v

The lever 41 is intended to support the two struts 21 in a horizontal position, in which their inner ends abut but when the weight 24 falls on to the head 35 tension will be applied to the chain 37' causing the lever 41 tobe turned in an anti clockwise direction about pivot-a1 pin 42, thus lifting the inner ends of the struts 21 and causing them to assume the position shown by dotted lines on the left hand side of FIGURE 4. In this position the moor- .ing rope will no longer be held on the sheave by the hook shaped parts 20, the sheave pivoting in a clockwise direction by the downward thrust of pins, 19 by the. inward rope force on part 20.

When it is desired to reset the release, the handle 38 is pulled, thus causing the weight to be lifted vertically from the dotted line position to the full line position which allows the pawl 26 to re-engage at point 27 due to the centre of gravity of the pawl 26. At the same time due to tension on chain 37, lever 41 will be moved about pivotal point 42 in a clockwise direction into a position in which the struts 21 will again assume an in line position and thereby maintain the hook-like levers :18 in their operative position.

As the sheave is in practical balance with its centre of gravity below the pivot centres 6 the sheave tends to re- .sumea horizontal position which allows the pawl 10 to re-engage on pin 13.

The parts shown by reference numerals 47, 24, 44, 46, :33iand'3z constituteztan adjustable balance to counteract the weight of the chain to the remote tripping mechaanism. iThe short length of chain attached to pawl 26 at :5301iS returned to position by. the centre of gravity of pawl ,;26 when the weight is raised.

FIGURE illustrates in dotted lines an alternative re- 1 lease or tripping device, the device taking the form of an :hydnaulic or pneumatic piston and cylinder 48 or electrical device pivotally connectedat 49 to the sheave, the extremity 50 of the piston being connected with lever 41 orother arrangement. A pressure supply line 51 is taken to a remote point and extension of the device under the pressure fluid will bring-about pivotal movement of the .lever 41 in an anti-clockwise direction to lift the inner 1 ends of struts 21 and cause them to allow inward pivotal movement of the hook-shaped levers 18.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description :that in the event of an emergency arising requiring instantaneous release of the mooring rope, the remote control release device will be brought into operation, thus causing immediate shedding of the mooring rope from the bollard.

Although a particular type of bollard has been illustrated, it is within the scope of the invention to construct .the bollard. in any other suitable way which will enable the rope to be shed from the bollard instantaneously under control of a remote control device.

Such instantaneous shedding of the mooring rope is h particularly desirable in the case, for example, of a petrol tanker which is moored to a quay in the event of a fire breaking out either on the quay or on the tanker, and in the case of a number of bollards being employed a com- -mon remote control device may be employed for the various bollards which are in use.

I claim:

1. A bollard comprising a pedestal, a rope-receiving sheave rotatably mounted on the upper end of the pedestal, means pivotally mounting the sheave at the upper end of its axis of rotation, means releasably to lock the sheave in horizontal position, means controlled by a rope around the sheave to release the locking means to permit tilting of the sheave on its pivotal mount in a first direction so that its axis of rotation is at right angles to the line of the rope, and means to effect movement of the sheave in the opposite direction to efiect substantially instantaneous release of the rope.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the rotary. mount of the sheave comprises a ring member rotatably mounted on the upper end of the pedestal, the pivotal mount of the sheave is connected to said ring,

1. said ring having an annular groove, a pin mounted in said ring extends beyond the latter at one end and into the annular groove at the other, detent means carried by said sheave engages the outer end of said pin to retain said sheave in horizontal position, and release means pivotally -mounted on said sheave has a portion operatively engaging said detent means and a portion extending outwardly from said sheave, whereby when said rope engages said other portion said release means will be pivoted to release said detent to permit tilting of said sheave in said first direction.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 in which said sheave has a pair of hook-shaped members extending in opposite directions from said sheave to receive thereunder the legs of the rope on each side of the reversely bent portion thereof around the sheave, said hook-shaped members being on each side of a line extending fromsaid outwardly extending portion of said release means diametrically across the sheave, and means to effect movement of said hook-shaped members away from the rope to permit tilting of the sheave in the opposite direction "for disengagement of the rope from the sheave.

4. The combination set forth in claim 2 in which said sheave has a pair of levers pivotally mounted in said sheave respectively on each side of a line extending from said outwardly extending portion. of said release means diametrically across said sheave, said levers extending in opposite direction and each having a hook portion extending outwardly from said sheave to receive thereunder the .legs of the rope on each side of the reversely bent portion thereof around the sheave, a link pivotally connected at one end to each of the levers and abutting-at their other ends to retain the levers in locking position with respect to the rope, and means to effect disengagement of said abutting ends to permit pivotal movement of said levers for release of said rope.

5. The combinationset forth in claim 4 in which a lever is pivotally mounted in said sheave and has one end positioned beneath the abutting ends of said links, and

- means to pivot said lever to raise said end thereof to effect disengagement of said abutting ends of said links.

6. The combination set forth in claim 4 in which a lever is pivotally mounted in said sheave and has one end positioned beneath the abutting ends of said links, a line affixed at one end rides around the other end of said lever and has an abutment at its free end, a weight encompassing said line, and releasable locking means normally retaining said weight spaced from said abutment, whereby when said weight is released it will fall by gravity against said abutment to eifect tension on said line to pivot said lever to effect disengagement of the abutting ends of said links to release said rope.

7. The combination set forth in claim 4 in which a lever is pivotally mounted in said sheave and has one end positioned beneath the abutting ends of said links, a line aflixed at one end rides around the other end of said lever and has an abutment at its free end, a weight encompassing said line, releasable locking-means normally; retaining said weight spaced from said abutment, whereby when said weight is released it will fall by gravity against saidabutment to efiect'tension on said line to pivot said lever to eifect disengagement of the abutting ends of said links to release said rope, and means to eifect movement of said line to raise said weight to lock the latter spaced from said abutment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 336,829 Winter Feb. 23, 1886 

